An Exotic Market

Saturday is a day for exploration!

Our first adventure was the Foreign Book Store -- where we can get books in English. Every drive around Beijing shows us the changes and construction for the upcoming Olympics. The bookstore is in a lovely pedestrian mall...and had everything we needed.

In fact, John bought me the greatest gift of all -- children's books to learn Mandarin. And there are even songs!

After the bookstore, we went to a incredible market -- where all the ethnic people of China (56 different groups!) sell their goods. We loved it -- more relaxed than the silk market...and exotic, unusual things. Perhaps it was the cold weather, but it seemed John and I were the only "non-Chinese" folks there... different from the other markets here.

But the outdoor market nearly froze us to death! We ended up at the German hotel -- that has a brew pub with good German sausage!

School Field Trip! Yaaay....

On Friday, January 11, we busted out of school. We were ready...

Our teachers took us to the Beijing Electronics Market. John and I need some tiny mp3 players for our Mandarin pronunciation tapes.

When we get home from class, John and I try to practice...but quickly realized that instead of speaking Mandarin or English, we were developing our OWN language -- Mandr-ish. So we needed to get back to basics.

Speaking of pronunciation, thanks to our Berlitz teachers, we learned that our driver's name isn't Yang Shufu, it's Yan Shufu... We've spent these past two weeks exuberantly calling him by the wrong name -- the equivalent of calling someone named Brown -- Kapinski! Friday was terrific because we also got to learn more about him...his wife and daughter (her name is Yan Yan...) both live in Beijing, too. He even came to lunch with us!

As a going away gift, somehow my friends in Kansas City got some Chinese Yuan in the US... We used this lovely gift to buy our players.

A much needed investment...

Shopping in Beijing can be overwhelming...even in the electronics market, salespeople swarmed over us... look, look, look... The other thing that's tough is negotiating...many things are already so inexpensive (but other things are as -- if not more -- expensive than in the US) it's not worth the trouble.

A Day in Beijing

Since we arrived, our days have settled into a pattern as we head to Berlitz for our language classes. Here’s how it looks:

6 a.m. -- John and I both get up and get on our computers…our morning is the afternoon (the day before) in Peoria – so it’s a good time to connect.

8 a.m. -- We head to breakfast. Until our furniture arrives, we’re staying at a “serviced” apartment in Beijing – a serviced apartment is furnished, provides cleaning and also breakfast. Every morning we say hello to the girl in the little store – we started with a simple Ni Hau…now we try our latest Mandarin greetings! She also helps us count…




8:15 Breakfast – most of the folks here at the Ascott are expats…there’s always a selection of Chinese and traditional breakfast items.

8:30 --We meet up with Yan Shufu…note our snazzy silver van!
8:45 -- Berlitz is hard…we get a sick feeling as we get closer. We get a latte at Starbucks every day to help give us strength.












9 a.m. -- We each go into individual classrooms where the teachers drill us one on one in Mandarin. It’s a gift when we get a break together!

Noon -- Even lunch is in Mandarin language…we go with our teachers to various restaurants in the area.

1:30 -- Another three hours in class.

4:30 -- We head home and usually have a cocktail immediately. It’s tough work but also exciting – we’re starting to recognize words around us!

Dinner -- Every other night we try a new dining adventure…but many nights we simply stay in and recover!

Sparkly China...Peking Acrobats

Apart from the commercial side of Beijing, China is a colorful and exuberant place. The people laugh a lot (often at us as we try out our stumbling Mandarin language...) and there's energy everywhere.

The Peking Acrobats are a perfect example ... beautiful costumes and amazing antics! Watch out Olympics...it was pretty incredible.

John and I try to plan an outing every few days -- during the week we collapse at home after our language classes!

Mandarin Language Marathon

My hat is off to all of our friends and loved ones who have trained for a marathon... Remember those first days? When each step running was like hell? I'm thinking of you as we learn Mandarin through the intensive Berlitz method.

I'm thinking of our darling Andi...who taught herself to play the piano. Those moments when the keyboard was so foreign....

I'm thinking of our tour guide in Guatemala..who taught himself not only Spanish (he spoke a native tongue) but also English to give his family a better life.

John fueling up at Starbucks before our session.

8 hours a day. One-on-one. John in one room...me in another. The minute you arrive, they speak only Mandarin. And both of us seem to instantly forget what we've learned the minute we learn it! Our brains are working in a whole new way.

But here's the light -- the Chinese people are wonderful as we fumble with their language. Our relationship with Yan Shu Fu..our driver...is great -- he helps us with the basics. And we'll be ready to help you by the time you come to visit!

But gosh, sometimes it's hard to grit our teeth and head back to class...

Meet Mr. Yan (Yang Shu Fu)

Driving in Beijing is a special art -- which is why we're happy that Mr. Yan (Yang Shu Fu -- which means Respected Driver Yan) is part of team Wiebmer Beijing. We have a silver mini-van. When we met Yan Shu Fu at the airport...bleary from the plane, we didn't know what to think -- he's a great driver but speaks no English.

But this week, Yang Shu Fu has become part of our Mandarin language team...helping us on the way to class each morning. He helped me order my first Starbucks coffee (He Ka Fe). One of the first Mandarin phrases I learned was, "Thank you for being such a good driver, Yang Shu Fu." We spend the time in the car on the way to Berlitz class counting... Ye, Ars, Sen, Shhh, Wo, Leo, Chi, Ba, Shuuu.

Yesterday, he took us to a special grocery store...and even walked us across a busy street to make sure we were safe (we needed the help -- it's crazy here -- and cars always win!)

Thank you, Yang Shu Fu!

Adventures in Dining...or Pass the Pig Blood, Please

Dining in Beijing is wonderful -- there are thousands of restaurants. But once again, it's part of our China training.

When my first meal arrived, I literally had no idea of how to eat it -- I'd ordered it by fumbling with the menu and pointing at something. Imagine my surprise when a bubbling cauldron arrived at the table with five small dishes to accompany it. One of which was fruit! It's a lesson in humility...so I asked for help (and believe me, my chopstick skills are not so hot...). I compare it to eating mashed potatoes with a steak knife...the questions we have are so basic, it's difficult for people to explain.

Our Berlitz instructors took us to an authentic Hot Pot restaurant -- it's Chinese fondue! You get fabulous plates of meat and vegetables and dip them into a spicy boiling pot to cook. Once again -- with chopsticks! I loved it -- but John got a little ticked when I explained that what he thought was tofu was really a delicious patty of pig blood and tofu. Yum! Our tiny little Chinese Berliz instructors can really eat! It's fun to see them in action...

Last night we wandered out to Viva Curry! We loved the name! Our waitress couldn't stop giggling -- it made us laugh, too.